Window stay and fastener



April 7, 1931. w. H. SCHMITT 1,800,158

WINDOW STAY AND FAS'EENER Filed Jan. 8, 1931 IJY'VE'NTOE' .51 W a. 5 wew.

'0 the knee joint end of the inner bar of my Patented Apr. 7, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WILLIAM H. SCHMITT, OF ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA WINDOW STAY AND rasrnnna Application filed January 8, 1931. Serial No. 507,420.

My invention relates to bracing means for holding a storm window or other pivotally suspended window rigidly and securely in non-rattling position either closed or open. The main object is to provide a simple, efiicient and inexpensive device for said purpose and embodying certain hinge features and holding means designed to eliminate any rattling or other objectionable noise caused by the elements shaking a window particularly when it is in its outwardly directed position with its lower part in spaced relation to the window frame.

The construction and operation of my device are hereinafter fully set forth, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, inwhich, j 1

Figure 1 is atop or plan view of one of my devices in operative position holding the lower part of a storm window out, only a portion of the window stile and the. storm window being shown.

Figure 2 is an elevation of Figure 1 omitting the window frame or stile.

f Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional elevation taken vertically at the center of a W111- dow and looking toward itsright hand vertical frame parts and including my improved brace means in position holding the storm window closed.

F igure 4 is an enlarged cross sectional View of the knee joint of any device as on line 4- 1 in Figure 2. i

. Figure 5 is atop detail View of a certain preferred type of yieldable, corrugated spring-washer used in my' device. 1

Figure 6 is a diametrical section of Figure 5 as online 66 in the latter view.

1 Figure 7 is an enlarged inner face view of device. 7 j

Figure 8 is an enlarged detail end View, perspective, ofthe other end of said barl Figure 9 is a perspective view of the stile plate of my device.

Figures 10 and 11 are both enlarged vertical sectional elevations of the stile plate, the former taken centrally as on line 10-10 in Figure 2 and the latter as on line 1111 in said Figure 2 near and parallel to the inner flange of said plate.

Figure 12 is a perspective view of the brace.

Referring to the drawing by reference numerals, 15 designates either of the vertical stiles of a window frame having an outer depression 16 for retaining a storm window and the usual grooves 17 for slidably retaining the house window sash of which only the lower and inner one is shown and designated 18, and between said depression 16 and the said grooves 17 the usual spacing strip 19. 20 designates either vertical side bar of a storm window suspended pivotally (not shown) from the upper part of the window frame by suitable hinge means.

My device comprises a storm window bracket preferably of plate metal and L- shaped in horizontal cross section, one flange of which, as 21F is fixed vertically to the inner face of a bar 20 as at 22 while its main plate 21]? extends inwardly therefrom and is drilled for an outer joint bolt 23, the plate 211 being reduced inwardly of said joint and terminating in inwardly opening hookshaped arm 21H having an aperture 21A near said hook for a purpose to be described.

24 is an outer leg section of my brace and 25 is an inner leg section preferably shorter than section 24: both pivotally connected by a bolt 26 and the outer section pivoted on bolt 23 of the bracket 21, while the inner end of section 25 is pivotally retained in a pivot plate 32 removably fixed in a stile-bracket 27 fixed as with screws 28 to the parting strip 19 of the windowframe. Thus, is formed a knee joint at 26 and member 25 may further be provided with an integral extension forward of bolt 26 and having an inwardly directed lip 25L arranged to engage the top edgeof member 24 when the two sections 2425 are in alinen ent (see Figures 1 and 2 and 7). The legs 2425 are preferably flat bar stock as shown and enlarged at their Washer 34 having diametrically opposite tongues 34L. Each washer 34 is slitted radii ally from its bore, as 848 in Figure 5 and the ing and their tongueslocked in the grooves 33H in the respective members 24-25. The bolt 26 is provided exteriorly of the joint with a castellated nut 29 held by a cotter pin 30 (see Figure l). It is obvious that the washers 3-imaybe brought into frictional contact and their corrugated faces frictionally engageu as esired by setting nut 29 as tight as necessary the spring metal washers '34: having a yielding tendency but also tending to keep the entire knee joint rigid regardless of the positions of the members 24 and 25. Bolt 23 is similar to bolt 26 and has the castellated nut 29,-also adjustable. The outer or bracketoint on bolt 23 is assembled identical to the e joint just described, having spring washe s 34 about bolt 23 and squeezed between the outer end of member 24 and the plate 21F, both the joints being aptly illustrated in Figure 4. The inner end of leg member 25 comprises preferably two downwardly directed arms '25A'formed arcuate as (Figure 8), withvrelation tothe center of a pivot hole 31 in the endof thebar, (see Figure 8) each said arm terminating inanv outwardly directed flange 25F in parallel planet'othemain part of the bar. The said arcuate arms 25A provide bearing surfaces engaging in a round aperture 32A of a pivot plate 32 of quadrangular shape and preferably spring metal, and the flat extensions 25F engage under sideof said plate while bar 25 bears lightly against or is adjacent to the outer face of said pivot plate. The plate32 is normally in vertical plane and hastwo opposite reduced flat ends or fingersv 32F slidably and removably engaging in opposite'slits 2780f a stile plate 27 ofmy device which will now be described. Said plate is a vertical quadrangular base of sheet metal and having the apertures 28 for wood screws or like fastening means. 27B is a rear flange on said plate and 27F is a front flange at respective upright edges of the plate the former flange preferably the entire length of the plate and the latter extending upwardlyand thence inwardly in a curvature from the central outer edge of the plate and directed inwardly therefrom as best shown in Figures 2 and 9, said flange 27F being preferably archedin cross section and its'putercurvature in the path of movement of the brace'member 25Q-and engaged frictionally thereby as shown in Figure 1.

35,(Figures 9 and 10) .is a fixed pivot pin in stile plate 27 and projecting outwardly enough to pivotally engage the aperture 31' of brace member 25, as best shown in Figure 10. 275 in Figures 9 and 12 shows elongated slits wider at their diagonally opposite ends so that the pivot plate 32 can be centered on the pin 35 with its fingers in angular-position as shown dotted in Figure 2) aft r which the said pivot plate is swung to iorizontalposition, with its lingers the latter therebybeing forced simultaneously into the oppositely located narrow parts of the slits 27S and frictionally retained therein. Thus, the rear member 25 of my brace is pivotally secured in the plate 32 removably fixed in the stile plate 27. To obviate any accidental loosening of the pivot plate 32, I provide two spring tongues 2'ZT struck up. from the plate '27 one parallel to each flange, the free ends of suchton'gues being raised above the plane of saidfplate and located adjacent oneedge of the finger piece 32F'of the pivot plate to thus prevent edgewise slipping or loosening of the said pivot plate. To remove plate 3232F it is only necessary to press the said tongue 2'? T down until the part or parts can be slipped over and past En Figur 3 is clearly shownhow the deice, at one side of a window, is folded up into a small space when the storm window is closed, this figure also showing a flat spring metal hook bar 37 'fixed to the inner central part of the lower bar of the storm window and extending thenceinwardly and curved upwardly as 37C to form a. finger hook or catch. Near saidhook 37C is an aperture 37A. to be occupied by'a pro ection 38E of a plate 38 fixed on the window lintel' in the path of said hook so that the latter will frictionally engage and spring over the projection until the apertured part catches thereon as the storm' window is closed.

In Figures 1, 2, 9 and 12, 27B is an outwardly projecting extension of the lower part of flange 273; This projection is in such a position that. when the storm Window is closed thefinger piece or catch 21H rides on tiis projection being sprung inwardlyuntll the aperture 21A'is alinedw'ith the projection 27R at which time the a m 21H of course snaps into locking position with 27R to 'release'the device from the closed position. The spring arms21H-are simply sprung inwardly and out of contact with the projections 27R and the storm window is then free to be pushed outwardly to' its open position. The auxiliary hook member 3? previously described is not necessary wherethe locking arms 21H are used. It is obvious that the latching spring 37 is most necessary when the latching means above described are not made asin part of the window bracket 21.

The use of my improved storm window bracket'has been quite fully disclosed in the preceding specification; it might be stated further, however, that the joint construction as on bolts 26 and 23 together with the corrugated spring washers and thei'adjustments provide for positive elimination of objectionable noises such as occurs where bolts be come loose and by wearing the adjoining parts in such a manner that there is a rattling noise caused when the window is shaken by thewind. The advantages of these joint constructions is very clear but the use of my device is further augmented by the bearing flange 27F frictionally engaged by the bar 25. The removable part 32 is also a feature as the stile plate 27 is left on the window frame and the other bracket parts are readily folded up against the side members of the storm window for storage purposes.

I claim:

1. A foldable stay and fastener for a pivotally suspended window sash, said fastener comprising a window bracket fixed to the window near its lower free end, a stile bracket fixed on the window frame, a collapsible knee joint member connecting said brackets and comprising two bars pivotally connected together, one of said bars, the

outer bar, pivotally connected to the window bracket and the other bar, the inner bar, pivotaily and removably connected to the stile bracket, adjustable and yieldable friction means in the pivot connection of said outer bar and the window bracket, and yieldable, adjustable friction means between the bars at their pivotal connection forming the knee joint.

j 2. The structure specified in claim 1 and a lateral extension of one of said bars at its connection with the other bar and a transverse integral finger on the said extension arranged to engage the adjacent edge of the other bar to limit the straightening movement of both bars when the lower part of the window is swung outwardly from its frame. a

3. The structure specified in claim 1, in which said adjustable friction means at the knee j oint pivot and the pivot connection to a the window bracket, comprises for each oint,

a pair of shallow circular washers each with a radially corrugated face, said washers placed face to face, a bolt passed through the pivoted parts and said washers placed between said parts and key means provided on each washer and in each of said joined parts for preventing rotation of the washer with relationto the part to which it is keyed, an

adjusting nut threaded on one end of said bolt for clamping the said joint means together as tight as desired and means for holding said nut from rotating on the bolt.

1. The structure specified in claim 1 in which said removable inner bar end means comprises a pivot plate with reduced oppovi-ded with slits adapted to be frictionally engaged. by the reduced ends of said pivot plate simultaneously and spring means 111 said stile plate arranged to hold said reduced ends of the pivot plate in the position described.

' 5. The structure specified in claim 1, and a fixed center pin in said stile plate, said inner bar having an aperture arranged to be loosely journaled on said pin, and means engaging said latter inner bar end to hold it in pivotal position on said pin.

6. The structure specified in claim 1 in which said brace bars are normally foldable upward only at the knee joint, and normally in upright parallel planes when the window closed, said yieldable tension means on the stile bracket comprising a rolled flange at the upper and outer edge part of the stile bracket and arched inwardly toward the top of the latter, the inner of said bars being nearest to said rolled edge and arranged to frictionally engage said arched flange when said bar is swung outwardly on its pivot, as

shown and for the purpose described.

7 An adjustable joint for a foldable window stay and fastener comprising, a pair of pivotally connected members, adjustable friction means disposed between said members upon the pivot, said friction means including a pair of slitted dished washers, the faces of said washers being radially serrated andin mutual contact, means including lugs for securing each washer to its adjacent member, and means to hold said members and friction means in adjusted position.

8. An adjustable joint for a foldable window stay and fastener comprising, a pair of pivotally connected members, adjustable friction means disposed between said members upon the pivot, said friction means including a pair of slitted spring washers, the contacting faces of said washers being corrugated, means holding said washers against rotation, and means to hold said members and friction means in adjusted contacting relation.

WILLIAM H. SCHMITT. 

